2017 Special Session called

[SewTexas]

Well, Straus strikes again. Seems the governors property tax bill was one that got left hanging in the special session and Straus closed it out early. When are they going to get rid of him?

I believe there is a republican caucus meeting this morning to discuss that. Unfortunately, I believe Straus has JUST enough republicans in his pocket to side with the democrats and retain his position. I hope I am wrong.

I saw some discussions about a "rule change" that would mean that just the majority party would vote for the speaker. That could actually mean that Strauss could be replaced. Not sure a rule change could happen though...

Careful what you wish for. We may not always be in the majority. I fear this with the simple majority vote for Supreme Court Justices now.

I'm actually not wishing one way or the other....just reporting what I saw fly by....I would, however, not mind if Strauss were replaced.

Jed Judson, seems to be gearing up for another try in his district, for those of you who live there. I wish I could help him out even those I live just outside of it.

[Ameer]

Some people want to use tax dollars to pay for private school because they don't like public schools. If they get that, I think it's only fair for me to get tax dollars for my private vehicle because I don't like public transportation.

You have a simple view of an issue that's not so simple.

My simple view is ISD taxes should be used to pay for the ISD, not highway construction or farm subsidies.

The better question might be why do I have to pay 3-5 times what you pay for the same basic education your kid gets, on tax dollars alone?

You have to pay ISD taxes for the same reason someone with no children has to pay ISD taxes. If you want to change the system so people pay ISD taxes based on the number of children they have enrolled in the ISD, I would support that. I have no objection to making renters with kids in school pay their fair share. I have no objection to stopping an ISD from squeezing more money from someone who renovates their house, installs a backyard pool, etc.

However, until ISD taxes are reformed to be head taxes, rather than real estate taxes, we all have to pay based on the property we own, whether of not we use the schools, and whether or not the schools infringe our right to keep and bear arms.

[Flightmare]

I have no objection to making renters with kids in school pay their fair share.

I assure you, no sane property owner is paying the property taxes for the renters without factoring that into the cost of rent.

[flechero]

My simple view is ISD taxes should be used to pay for the ISD, not highway construction or farm subsidies.

You missed my point entirely. No one wants to build a road with the school tax revenue. I have no issue with the school tax (I want to use it to educate my son!) even for those that have grown kids and don't use the schools. My point was that in area with traditionally crap schools... like for decades not just a bad year or two- the broken system needs to be fixed. Right now there is almost no incentive to fix it. No incentive because there is no accountability or repercussion for ISD's with under performing schools.

If people were allowed to use their school taxes to help pay tuition for private schools (in areas that the public school was ranked below acceptable) then they would have an incentive to fix it or lose revenue and be out of a job.

After 30-40 years of a particular school being ranked below acceptable state standards, I feel like the ISD is to giving the residents districted for that school, the middle finger.

[ninjabread]

Straus wins again. Between Straus and Turner and Harvey it looks like it's time to move to a red state.

[Ameer]

I have no objection to making renters with kids in school pay their fair share.

I assure you, no sane property owner is paying the property taxes for the renters without factoring that into the cost of rent.

The school taxes are the same whether the apartment is occupied or vacant. Regardless of occupancy, if a family with three kids in public school pays the same as roommates with no children, the former are not paying their fair share to support the schools.

Which is still a completely different story than taking my tax money to pay for private schools, or taking your tax money to pay for my private gun collection.